International Women’s Rights Action Watch Asia Pacific Internship

Organisation Profile

IWRAW Asia Pacific is a non-profit international organisation based in South-East Asia which works nationally, regionally and internationally towards the achievement of women’s human rights. IWRAW Asia Pacific plays a critical role in filling the gap between the promise of women’s human rights embodied in human rights treaties, such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against women (CEDAW), and their actual realisation at a domestic level. This is achieved largely through building the capacity of women and human rights advocates to promote and protect women’s human rights and to demand accountability from governments on the domestic application of international human rights standards.

One of IWRAW Asia Pacific’s current projects is in the area of promoting the ratification and use of the Optional Protocol to CEDAW, which enables individuals to claim rights (protected under CEDAW) at the international level.  Another current project is known as the South Asia Litigation Initiative. Through this project, IWRAW Asia Pacific aims to provide support to claimants seeking to enforce women’s right to equality in domestic courts and tribunals.

Intern Profile

IWRAW Asia Pacific’s internship programme offers interns exposure to a range of women’s human rights issues. Through their work at IWRAW, interns will gain a deeper knowledge of the CEDAW Convention and its related treaty bodies, and will also have an opportunity to develop their research, advocacy and organisational skills.

Tasks include, but are not limited to:

• Developing position papers on various issues relating to women’s rights;
• Undertake research, collation and analysis of cases and principles;
• Assisting in the logistical needs relating to training and meetings;
• Assisting in tasks relating to the resource centre;
• Assisting in the administrative work relating to programs conducted by the organisation.

Some of the possible areas that the interns may be asked to work on are:

• CEDAW and the Optional Protocol to CEDAW;
•  Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ESCR);
•  Disappearance of rights;
•  Justiciability of ESCR rights;
•  South Asia Litigation Initiative

*New for 2010 program:  The IWRAW intern will start the internship in IWRAW's Kuala Lumpur office and will accompany the IWRAW delegation to Geneva for its Global to Local training programme which will coincide with the meeting of the Committee on the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination Against Women in early 2010. IWRAW will provide shared accomodation and meal expenses while in Geneva.

For more information on IWRAW - Asia Pacific, visit their website at http://www.iwraw-ap.org/ 

Eligibility Criteria

Please click here for eligibility criteria.

Selection Criteria

The following selection criteria will be taken into account by the Castan Centre in choosing the intern and applicants are advised to directly address each criterion in the personal statement.

• A demonstrated interest in human rights as shown through your practical or ac ademic experiences;
• Strong interest in and knowledge of women's human rights issues;
• Particular interest in the work currently undertaken by IWRAW;
• Strong academic record, in particular marks received in human rights and other relevant subjects;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills;
• Ability to speak French or Spanish (this is preferred, but not essential)

Application process

This internship is part of the Castan Centre for Human Rights Law's Global Internship Program.  For full details of the application process, go to the Global Internship homepage.

Equity grants

The Student Mobility Fund (SMF) has been developed to provide financial assistance for faculty internship programs to those students who can demonstrate financial hardship. 

Contact information

If you would like further information about this internship please contact:

Forms

Global Internship Application Form

Other Useful information

Past intern report - Carly Price 2008-2009
Past intern report - Meredith Kennedy 2007-2008
Past intern report - Rachael Hopkins 2006-07 

Accommodation, Living costs and other expenses
Role of the 2008 intern